Charles J. Harder is a prominent American entertainment lawyer known for representing high-profile clients in defamation, privacy, and media-related litigation. He founded the law firm Harder Strauss & Quinn LLP in Beverly Hills, California, where he specializes in First Amendment issues, intellectual property, and complex civil disputes. Harder gained national attention for his role in the 2016 Gawker Media lawsuit on behalf of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea), which resulted in a $140 million jury verdict against Gawker for invading Hogan's privacy by publishing a sex tape. The case led to Gawker's bankruptcy and sale, marking a significant victory for privacy rights advocates and highlighting tensions between free speech and personal privacy in digital media.

Beyond entertainment figures, Harder has represented political clients, including former First Lady Melania Trump in her 2017 defamation lawsuit against the Daily Mail for alleging she worked as an escort, which settled for an undisclosed amount. He also advised the Trump administration on media strategy and represented other celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan and the Church of Scientology in various legal matters. His work often involves aggressive litigation tactics against media outlets, earning him a reputation as a fierce defender of his clients' reputations. Harder has been involved in controversies, including criticism for his firm's representation of clients accused of harassment and for his own alleged ties to political influence networks.

Harder's career reflects the intersection of law, media, and power in Hollywood and Washington. He has been described as a key player in shaping modern defamation law through high-stakes cases that test the boundaries of public interest journalism. Despite his successes, he has faced scrutiny for selective enforcement of privacy laws and for contributing to a chilling effect on investigative reporting.